Optical exerciser



July15,1930. M. D. YETTA 1,770,448

OPTICAL EXERCISER Filed June 13, 1928 INVENTOR. I

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ATTORNEYS Patented July'15, 193d PATTET Fries MICHAEL D. YETTA, orfconnnnsvrnrninnmna OPTICAL .EXERCISER Application filed June 13,

' My invention relates to improvements in devices for. assisting a patient in the exercise of the eye muscles. It is primarily designed to insure the exercise of the muscles which control'the movement of the eyes and -to insure the exercise of the muscles controlling the focusing of the eyes. 7

For the purpose of disclosing my invention I have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 isa front elevation thereof partly in section; f

Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof;

.Fig. 41: is a schematic view of the driving gears thereforand Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the horizontal rotating platform.

In the embodiment of the invention I provide a suitable casing or closure 1 which is provided With a horizontal portion having an annular rim 2, and a substantially vertical casing portion 3 provided with a series of openings 4 arranged'in a circle about a cornmon center. The flange portion 2 of the horizontal casing section is provided with an opening 5 and a second opening 6 at diametrically opposite points, saidopenings being'arranged so that they can be viewed from 31; in front of the machine. Arran'ged within the casing and mounted to rotate in a horizontal'plane is a platform 7 provided on its periphery with a plurality of vertically extending channel members 8 arranged in pairs facing one another, each'pair being adapted to receive a plate 9. The series of plates thus arranged provide an annular flange on the platform rotating in the casing in such a manner that the plates appear the openings 5 and 6. 1

Rotating behind the front plate 10 of the casing 3 is a disc 11 mounted on a suitable driving shaft 12' and provided with an elongated opening 13 which during its rotation coincides with each of the openings 4:. Behind this disc is an annular plate 14 having arranged thereondirectly opposite the re spective openings 4 indicia of any suitable character and in such position that as the 50 disc 11 rotates the different indicia may be mechanism.

successively behind 1928. Serial No. 284,897.

successively displayed through the openings 4.

The mechanism for driving the disc 11 and platform 7 may be of any suitable character, although I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a gear train and clockwork The shaft 12 is driven from a pair of segmental gears 15 and 16, the gear 15- being adapted to mesh through an idler 17 with a pinion '18 on the shaft 12 and the gear 16 being adapted to mesh with a pinion 19 on the shaft. These gears are driven by a suitable clock spring 20 and the speed of rotation of the shaft 12 is controlled by a governor 21 connected by a gearing 22with the shaft. The platform 7 is drivenby a bevel gear connection 23 from a shaft 24: in turn driven by a mutilated gear 25; meshing with a pinion26 on the shaft 24: and driven from' the same shaft '27 which drivesthe gears 15 and 16; The teeth of the gears 15 and 16 are soarranged that-the disc 11 is alternately driven in opposite directions and the teeth of the gear 25are so arranged thereon that the platform 7 is intermittent-1y rotated during the period in which the disc 11 isstationary.

In operation the patient positions himself infront of the device, holding his head stationary and viewing the openings. WVhen the mechanism is'started the eyes will first natu rallyv follow the indicia successively in the openings 4. as they appear with the disc r0 'tating in one direction, this causing the roll- 7 *When the [reverse movement of the disc is completed the movement of the platform 7 takes place, causing indicia on the plates 9 to c successivelyappear in the openings 5 and '6 and (lUGftO. the fact that these openings are 1. In a device of the character described the combination with a View plate arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a series of view openings therein arranged about a common center, a plate arranged at the rear of said openings having indicia thereon, of means for causing said indicia to appear successively in said view openings, a member in front of said plate having View openings therein arranged one in front of the other, indicia-carrying means mounted to move in front of said openings and means for sequentially driving said indicia-carrying means.

2. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a view plate arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a series of View openings therein arranged about a common center, a plate arranged at the rear of said openings having indicia thereon, of means for causing said indicia to appear successively in said view openings, first in one direction and then in the other, a member in front of said plate having View openings therein arranged one in front of the other, indicia-carrying means mounted to move in front of said openings and means for sequentially driving said indicia-carrying means.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a view plate arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a series of view openings therein arranged about a common center, a plate arranged at the rear of said opening having indicia there on, of means for causing said indicia to ap pear successively in said view opening, first in one direction and then in the other, a member in front of said plate having view openings therein arranged one in front of the other, indicia-carrying means mounted to move in front of saidopenings and means for sequentially driving said indicia-carrying means intermittently.

l. In a device of the character described the combination with a view plate arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a series of view openings therein, an indiciacarrying plate mounted at the rear of said view plate and having indicia thereon coincident with said view openings, a rotatable disc mounted between said plates and having an opening therein arranged to coincide with the opening in the view plate as the same is rotated, of a member in front of said plate having view openings therein arranged one in front of the other, indicia-carrying means mounted to move in front of said openings and means for sequentially driving said indicia-carrying means.

5. In a device of the character described the combination with a view plate arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a series of view openings therein arranged about a common center, an indicia-carrying plate mounted at the rear of said view plate and having indicia thereon coincident with the view openings, a rotatable disc mounted between said plates having an opening therein adapted to coincide with the view openings as the plate is rotated, means for alternately rotating said plate in opposite directions, of a member in front of said plate having View openings therein arranged one in front of the other, indicia-carrying means mounted to move in front of said openings and means for sequentially driving said indicia-carrying means. 7

6. In a device of the character described the combination with a view plate arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a series of view openings therein arranged about a common center, a plate arranged at the rear of said openings having indicia thereon, of means for causing said indicia to appear successively in said view openings, an annular rim arranged in front of said plate and having view openings at diametrically opposite points therein, a rotatable platform having an annular rim provided with indicia rotatable behind said second-mentioned view openings and means for sequentially driving said plate and platform.

7 In a device of the character described the combination with a view plate arranged in a substantially vertical plane and having a series of view openings therein arranged about a common center, a plate arranged at the rear of said openings having indicia thereon, of a member in front of said plate having view openings therein arranged one in front of the other, indicia-carrying means mounted to move in front of said openings and means for sequentially causing said first-mentioned indicia to appear successively in said first-mentioned View opening alternately in opposite directions and intermittently and for causing certain second-mentioned indicia to appear opposite said second-mentioned view openings intermittently and during the periods in which said first-mentioned indicia is quiescent.

In witness whereof, I, MICHAEL D. YETTA, have hereunto set my hand at Connersville, Indiana, this 8th day of June, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty eight.

MICHAEL D. YETTA. 

